Wrapping machinery



jam., l, 1929.

W. E. MoLlNs WRAPPING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 25, 192'? 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

lllllllllllllllllll Jan. E, i929, lQfAS W. E. MoLlNs WRAPPING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 25, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 2 /Nl/ENTR Jan. 1, 1929.

W. E. MOLINS WRAPPING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 25. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet Jan. l 1929..

W. E. MOLINS WRAPPING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 25, 1927 4 Sheets-sheet 4 W r m M Patented Jam 1, 1929.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WBAPPING MACHINERY.

Application filed January 25, 1927, Serial No. 163,520, and in Great Britain February 8, 1926.

This invention is for improvements in or relati to Wrapping machinery, and more partidiilarly to a method and means of wrapping block shaped articles, or block shaped batches of articles, in a U shaped block ended wrapper, and it has for its object the provision of means whereby the open end of the wrapper is closed in a more eiiicient manner than hitherto.

The present invention consists of a method of automatically' closing the open end of a U shaped block ended wrapper open at one end and formed so that the length of the last folded broad end flap is greater than the thickness of the article wrapped, which comprises the following steps:-

(a) Forming the side tucks and the two broad end flaps of the wrapper, so that the free end of the last folded broad flap extends beyond the adjacent face of the Wrapper,

and

(b) Folding the said extension upon the adjacent face of the wrapper, and securing the last folded broad end l'lap by adhesive either to the other broad flap, the face of the wrapper or to both.

Further, the presentI invention consists of a wrapping machine of the type wherein a st-rip of material is fed across the path of a block shaped article, or a block shaped batch of articles, and moved by the article, or hatch of articles, through folding mechanism which wraps the strip about the article, or batch of articles, in a U shaped block ended wrapper, characterized by means for controlling the strip so that the length of the last folded broad end flap is greater than the thickness of the article, or batch of articles, and means for folding and pressing the free end of the last folded broad en'd flap upon the adjacent face of the wrapper..

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, 1n which Fig. l'is a side elevation of a wrapping machine constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed plan view of the tucking mechanism and stacker.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe tucking mechanism and stacker.

Figs. 4, and 6 indicate the operation of the supporting gate, operatively connected to the stacker, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an article,

enveloped in a Wrapper formed according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. l with the paper reel omit-ted.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, 1 is a magazine adapted to receive packets containing cigarettes and feed the same by gravity to the bed 2 of the machine, and on either side thereof are a pair of endless conveyors 3 which are connected at intervals by rods 4 and carry pusher pieces 5 adapted to travel in a slot formed in the bed of the machine. Each pusher piece 5 is adapted to engage with the lowermost packet A in the magazine 1 and carry the same along the bed of the machine. Mounted in advance of the magazine 1 above the bed of the machine upon a bar 31 is a reel 6 which carries the web of material 7 which is adapted to be drawn from the reel by means of a pair of continuously rotating rollers 8 and 9. The paper reel 6 is mounted so that the .centre line of the paper coincides with the centre line of the slot 30 in the bed of the machine. The web 7 after it leaves the rollers 8 and 9 passes between a pair of cutting blades l0 and 11.which'are adapted periodically to sever a strip from the web. The web 7 passes from between the blades 10 and 11 between guide members 12 and 13 which support the web in a vertical position so that the same extends both above and below the path of the packets. The packets pass from the magazine 1 between guides 32 and meet the severed portion of the paper web.

A bridge 33 carries a plate 34 which lies between the guides 32 so that the whole constitutes a rectangular tunnel through which the packet passes.

The cutting mechanism hereinbefore referred to is preferably controlled so that when the pusher piece 5 moves a packet into en gagement with the web, a strip is severed from the web immediately the packet engages with the same. The strip lof material severed from the web is, according to the presentinvention, preferably fed so that the portion which extends below the bed of the machine is shorter than the port-ion which extends above the bed of the machine, although it Will be readily appreciated that the cutting operation could be delayed so as to a1- low the strip to slip relatively to the packet and thereby produce the same effect. When the strip has been severed from the web, the

' ing mechanism w pusher piece 5 conveys the packet of cigarettes and the stri i of material through foldlxich wraps the strip into a U shaped block ended wrapper open at one end in a manner perfectly well known 1n the art.

The Wrapping of the packet 1n a U shaped block ended wrapper is preferably performed in the manner describedrin my U. S. Patent No. 1,468,246 and comprises a pair of side folders 35 which form the narrow side folds 36 gFi 7). A further pair o`f spiral folders 37 01g up th e bottom side fold 38, andanother pair of spirall folders 39 fold down the remaining long side flap 40. The folders 35 and 37 are mounted on the bed of the machme, and the folders 39 are carried on aplate 41 which is carried above the bed of the machine by a bridge 42.

Gumming mechanism 1s provlded between folders 37 and 39 which applies gum to the flap 38 as soon as it is turned up. The gumming mechanism comprises two gum pots43 mounted 0n either side of the bed in which the discs 44 rotate. These discs project through slots in the sides of the gum pots and through similar slots in the folders 37 and apply a line of gum to the packets. 1`h 1s gumminv' apparatus is described 1n deta1l 1n my U. l Patent No. 1,651,146. The openv ended packet then passes between a pair of guides 45 between which is mounted a plate 46 carried on a bridge 47 so that the whole forms a rectangular tunnel.

The guides 45 are furnished with electrlc heaters 48 which dry the gum.

As the Wrapper packet emerges from this tunnel, the same is carried forward at a speed greater than the linear speedof the pusher piece 5 into a stationary position below a- -stacker 14. The wrapped packet is moved into the stationary position in any desired manner, but preferably by the tucking element 24 carried on rotating discs 24aL described in my U. S. Patent No. 1,517,307 and illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8 of the accompanying drawing. As the wrapped packet is being advanced into the stationary position or after the packet has arrived in that position, the side tucks 49 Fig. 7) on the open end of the wrapper are ormed, and a pair of light springs 26 carried on the plate 46 depress the upper broad end flap slightly so as to prevent the freshly formed tucks iying outwardly due to the natural resiliency of the wrapping material.

Whenthe packet is brought to rest at the base of the stacker, a. platform 15*l carried on a bracket 15 is moved upwardly and a lip 16 formedon the lplatform folds the lower'broad end flap Of t e wrapper upwardly. That portion of the platform 15L which lies adjacent to the lip 16 is preferably recessed at 15b so as to permit suitably operated gummer mechanism to engage with the lower broad end flap or the lower face of the wrapper, or both the lower broad Hap and the face of the wrapper to apply adhesive to the desired part of the wrapper.

The gumming mechamsm comprises a rocking arm 50 pivoted at 51.and carrying a roller 52 at its other end. This roller is adapted to contact at intervals with a roller 53 which runs in a gum bath 54. The arm 50 is oscillated by ordinary cam and spring mechanism (not shown).

The bracket 15 which carries the platform 15a is reciprocated in a guide 55 by means of a lever 56 pivoted at 57 and rocked by means of a cam 58 through themedium of roller 59. When the platform 15n commences to move upwardly as indicated in- Fig. 4, a brush 17 located-at the free end of an electrically heated plate 18 engages with the upper broad end flap of the packet and brushes the same downwardly against the end of the packet until the shown in Fig. 6.

The wrapping machine isprovi-ded with a rocking link 19 which is adapted to slide in a depression in the platform 15a and engage with the lower edge of the packet and firmly press the lower forward edge of the same against the lip 16 so as to produce a sharp fold on the lower broad Hap and also to ensure that the brush 17 brushes the upper flap downwardly over the end of the packet and holds the same taut against the end of the packet. vWhen the packet reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, the platform 15a commences to descend, whereupon a gate pivotally secured to the stacker 14 automatically comes into operation to support the packet in the stacker so that the next succeeding packet B will engage with the extension 20 of the upper broad end Hap of the wrapper which envelops the packet A. As the next succeeding packet B moves into the stationary position at the foot of the stacker 14, it engages with the extension 2O and bends the same under the packet A. When the packet B is brought to rest upon the platform 15, the gate hereinbefore referred to is ada ted to release its support from the upper pac et A, and the subsequent movement 0f the packet B causes the extension 20 of the upperv packet A to be pressed firmly against the lower face thereof. Due to the combined action of the brush 17 and the upward pressure of the packet B, it will be found that the upper broad end flap of the wrapper which envelops the packet A is brushed tightly across the end of the packet and the extension 20 thereof folded smoothly upon the under face of the packet A.

The gate which supports the packets in the stacker preferably comprises two bell crank levers 21, one limb of each being adapted normally to lie within the stacker under the influence of springs 22 and are moved out of the stacker by cam plates 23 mounted on the tucking element 24 hereinbefore referred' to and adapted to engage with the arm 25 of the levers 21 (see Fig. 2).

It Will be appreciated that the extension of the upper broad flap may be folded upon the underside of the acket by means of a tucking element'operailile from the main drive of the machine in the same manner as the gate 2l. c

The various mechanisms in the machine are driven in the following manner A main shaft 6() carried in bearings 61 is driven by means of a. pulley (not shown) and transmits motion to the chain conveyor 3 through bevel wheels 62 and 63, the latter being mounted on the. shaft. 64 which carries sprockets on which the conveyor chain 3 runs. Another bevel wheel 65 on the main shaft 6() drives a bevel wheel 66 carried on a vertical shaft 67. At the upper end of 67 is mounted a bevel 68 which drives another bevel 69 fixed on the shaft 7 0 of the cutter 11. The roller 9 is driven from shaft 11 by means of a train of ordinary spur gears 7 0Il and 7 0, Fig. 8, and an extension of the shaft of roller 9 drives gumming apparatus through sprockets. The sprocket 72 is mounted on a spindle 72n which carries bevel gears 73 Which drive the gum wheels 44 through bevel Wheels 7a.

The tucking Wheels 24 are driven by spiral wheels 7 5 and 76, the wheels 76 being mounted on a cross shaft 7 7 which is driven by a sprocket 78.

The forward end of the chain conveyor 3 is carried on a spindle 79, and this spindle projects through the side of the bed of the machine and carries a sprocket 80.

The shaft 81 which carries the gum Wheel 53 and cam 58 has a sprocket 82 mounted on its end, and a chain from sprocket 80 passes around sprockets 79 and 82 and drives the various mechanisms at this end of the machine.

lt will be appreciated that, according to the present invention, it is possible to Wrap packets of cigarettes in an outer cover of thin transparent paper, which may be easily removed from the packet by rubbing the partly secured extension 20 upwardly by the thumb, and thereafter tearing the wrapper from the packet.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it enables a block shaped packet having a. depression at each end to be wrapped ir an outer covering of transparent material.

It will be appreciated that the ends of a packet containing tobacco usually have a depression which renders it extremely difficult to envelop in an outer wrapper, as no surface exists against which the side tucks and two broad end flaps may bc pressed in order to secure them firmly together by an adhesive. The present invention, however, permits the last folded broad end fiap to be drawn tightly across the end of a packet of tobacco and the extension thereof to be secured on the under side of the packet, thereby removing the difficulty hitherto experienced in Wrapping block shaped articles having depressions at each end.4

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 A machine for Wrapping block shaped articles in an outer envelope, comprising in combination, means for feeding a strip of Wrapping material, a conveyor for moving the articles simultaneously in line into en,- gagement with said strip of Wrapping material, means for controlling said strip so that the length of the final broad end Hap is greater than the thickness of the article, Wrapping mechanism arranged in the path of the said conveyor and adapted to envelop each article automatically in a U shaped block ended envelope open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped article out of engagement With the said conveyor, comprising an element movable at a speed greater than the linear speed of the conveyor and operable to fold each side tuck at the open end of the envelope and deliver the article into a stationary position, means adapted to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope upwardly, a stacker, means operable to move the enveloped article upwardly into said stacker adapted to fold the upper broad end liap downwardly and means adapted to locate the article in the stacker so as to permit the extension of the upper broad end flap to be folded and pressed upon the under side of the Wrapped article.

2.. A machine for Wrapping block shaped art1cles in an outer envelope comprising in combination, means for feeding a strip of Wrapping material, a conveyor for moving the articles simultaneously in line into engagement with said strip of Wrapping material, means controlling said strip so that the length of the final broad end flap is greater than the thickness of the article, Wrapping mechanism arranged in the path of the said conveyor and adapted to envelop each article automatically in a U shaped block ended envelope open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped article out of engagement with the said conveyor, comprising an element movable at a speed greater than the linear speed of the conveyor and operable to fold each side tuck at the open end of' the envelope and deliver the article into a stationary position, means adapted to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope upwardly, a stacker, means operable to move the enveloped article upwardly into said stacker adapted to fold the upper broad end flap downwardly, and means operatively connected to the said stacker adapted to support the enveloped article in the stacker so that the forward end of the next succeeding article folds and presses the extension of the lou upper broad end flap upon the under face of the enveloped article.

3. A` machine for wrapping block shaped,

articles in an outer envelope, comprising 1n combination, means for feeding a strip of wi'apping material, a conveyor for moving the articles simultaneously in line into engagement with said strip of wrapping` material, means controlling said strip so that the length of the final broad end flap is greater than the thickness of t-he article, wrapping mechanism arranged in the path of the said conveyor and adapted to envelop each article automatically in a UV shaped block ended envelope open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped article out of engagement with the said conveyo-r, comprising an element movable at a speed greater than-the linear speed of the conveyor and operable to fold each side tuck at the open end of the envelop and deliver the article into a stationary "position, means adapted to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope upwardly, a stacker, means operable to move the enveloped article upwardly into said stacker adapted to fold the upper broad end flap downwardly, and a gate operatively connected to the stacker adapted to move periodically into the same to engage with the under side of each successive article to support the same in such a position that the forward end of the next succeeding article folds the extension of the upper broad end flap of the preceding article upon the under face thereof.

4. A machine for wrapping block shaped articles in an outer envelope comprising in combination, means for feeding a strip of wrapping material, a conveyor for moving the articles simultaneously in line into engagement with said strip of wrapping material, means controlling said strip so that the lengthV of the final broad end flap is greater than the thickness of the article, wrapping mechanism arranged in the path of the said conveyor and adapted to envelop each article automatically in a U shaped block ended envelopev open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped article out ot engagement with the said conveyor, comprising an element movable at a speed greater' than the linear speed of the conveyor and operable' to fold each side tuck at the open end of the envelope and deliver the article into a stationary position, means adapted to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope upwardly, a stacker, means operable to move the enveloped article upwardly into said stacker adapted to fold the upper broad end` flap downwardly, means for supporting each enveloped article in the stacker and means associated with the said stacker operab-le to fold the extension of the upper broad end flap upon the under side of the wrapped article while it is being held in position in the said stacker.

each article automatically in a U shaped block ended envelope open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped. article out of engagement with the said conveyor, comprising an element movable at a speed greater than the lineal speed of theconveyor and operable to fold each side tuck at the open end of the envelope and deliver the article into a stationary position, means adapted to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope upwardly, anstacker, a gate operatively connected to the stacker for periodical movement into and out of engagement with the underside of each successive article to support the same whereby the end of the succeeding article folds the last folded broad f A end flap of the preceding article upon the under side of the same, and means adapted to release said gate as the succeeding article is moved into the stacker.

6. A machine for wrapping block shaped articles in an outer envelope, comprising in combination, means lfor vfeeding a strip of wrapping material, a conveyor for moving the articles simultaneously in line into engagement with said strip of wrapping material, means Vfor controlling said strip so that the length of the final broad end fiap is greater than the thickness of the article,

wrapping mechanism arranged in the path of the said conveyor and adapted to envelop eachy article automatically in a U shaped block ended envelope open at one end, means operable to move each enveloped article out of engagement with the said. conveyor, coinprising an element movable at a speed greater than the linear speed of the conveyor and operable to fold each side tuck at the open end of the envelope and deliver the artic-le into a stationary position, means adapted 'to fold the lower broad end flap of the envelope-upwardly, a. stacker, means operable tomove the enveloped article upwardly into said stacker adapted to fold the upper broad end flap downwardly, a brush, and a pivoted linkadapted to press the last folded In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix signature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLIN S. 

